These are my rough initial thoughts on wargaming scenarios for the New Zealand Wars. They are nominally for my DBA Variant for the New Zealand Wars , although if I had a go at them myself I’d try my variant of Crossfire instead. I haven’t played any of them yet, as I haven’t resolved the challenges of wargaming the New Zealand wars. None the less you might find these useful. If you have any bright ideas, then please contact me.
New Zealand Wars
The Maori called their wars with the British Te Riri Pakeha (The White Man’s Anger), rather more poetic than the names that European history has passed down (New Zealand Wars, Colonial Wars, Land Wars, or Maori Wars). These wars are unusual for the Colonial period with small native forces facing a vastly superior European opponent. The Maori managed to beat their British opponents time and again, despite technological and numerical disadvantages. Ultimately however those European advantages led to victory and New Zealand as we know it today.
Painting Guide for the New Zealand Wars
This is the painting guide I gave to Nigel Fun-nell who painted by kit for the New Zealand Wars.
Strategic Aims and Objectives in Hone Heke’s War
The protagonists in the New Zealand Wars had differing strategic aims and objectives. I’ve summarised those from Hone Heke’s War of 1845-46. The three protagonist groups in this war were the Government, the resisting Maori and the collaborating Maori. Maori on both sides of the conflict were from the Ngapuhi tribe and this had an impact on their conduct of the war.
British Order of Battle in the New Zealand Wars
Some Orders of Battle for the British / Europeans of the New Zealand Wars.
Kororareka – A DBA Scenario
Here is my Kororeka scenario for my DBA New Zealand Wars variant. I have assumed one element represents 20 men (rounded up to the next whole element), except the unarmed settlers where each represents 50 men, women and children. Some Naval Brigade and and Civic Guard are manning the gun batteries. Although there were four guns available I’ve lumped the three old cannon together as one battery.
Timeline of the New Zealand Wars
A rough timeline for the New Zealand Wars.
Fall of Kororareka 11 Mar 1845
Kororareka was a major trading and ship provisioning centre. Located in the Bay Islands it had been the original capital of New Zealand. Although it had suffered a decline in trade it was still the fifth largest town in the colony. On 11 March 1845 Maori under Hone Heke and Kawiti defeated a defending British force and sacked the town.
Battle of Te Ahuahu 12 Jun 1845
In a sharp battle the pro-government Maori under Tamati Waka Nene defeat the anti-government Maori under Hone Heke at Pukenui outside Te Ahuahu Pa (Buick, 1926). This was very much a civil war as the majority of men on both sides were Nga Puhi.
Personalities of the New Zealand Wars
A couple of brief biographies of key figures from the New Zealand Wars.
Battle for Ruapekapeka Pa January 1846
The attack on Ruapekapeka Pa (‘The Bat’s Nest’) was the last engagement of Hone Heki’s War.
Battle for Ohaeawai Pa 1 Jul 1845
In another futile attack on entrenched Maori the British lost 39 killed and 70 wounded.
Battle for Puketutu Pa 8 May 1845
On 8 May 1845, at Puketutu Pa on the shores of Lake Omapere, a small Maori force under Hone Heke repulsed a British assault with heavy losses.
DBA for the New Zealand Wars
I wrote variant of DBA in Jun 1996 to refight the battles of the New Zealand Wars (1840-1872). They do not cover skirmishes They are based on DBA and were influenced by the article by Ed White on DBA and the Seven Years War (WI65) and Clive Clapson’s article on the Maori Wars (WI63). As in Ed’s article there are two assumptions:
Wargaming the Battle for Ohaeawai Pa
Attempting to wargame the Battle for Ohaeawai Pa brings you face to face with the Challenges of Wargaming the New Zealand Wars, even more than the Battle for Puketutu Pa does. A relatively tiny group of entrenched Maori bloodily repulses a large number of European attackers. How to make that possible? How to make that a good game?